August 23rd. Several trail stops along River Road. American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

 

 

 

 

 

Eastern Tailed Blue (Everes comyntas).

 

Peck's Skipper (Polites peckius).

 

Locust Borer (Megacyllene robiniae).

 

Two-spotted Scoliid Wasp (Family Scoliidae, Scolia dubia) Thanks to Jonathan Hoskins via BugGuide.Net for the ID.

 

 

 

A young male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

 

Fragrant Water Lilies (Nymphaea odorata).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers of invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

 

 

 

August 24th. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).

 

 

 

There were several more foraging in low vegetation. Family group maybe?

 

 

 

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) was around again, in roughly the same spot where I photographed it on August 20th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracking something, though it never struck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wooly Oak Leaf Gall, made by a Cynipid Wasp (Callirhytis lanata).

 

Read more about them here: https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/woolly-oak-leaf-gall/

 

Two young Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) where I've seen up to six recently.

 

Ah, all six were there after all.

 

On my return trip the Green Heron was still roughly where I'd seen it half an hour before.

 

Neck extended this time.

 

August 25th. At Cranberry Bog on a misty afternoon, Broad-leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia).

 

 

 

 

 

An Ambush Bug nymph (Phymata sp.). Adults are yellow or pale green with brown markings. I don't think I've seen a nymph before.

 

Climbing parasitic Dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) is in full bloom now.

 

August 26th. Heavy overcast and humidity after recent rain.

 

 

 

One of the early fall Asters (Symphyotrichum sp.).

 

 

 

The first of six Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon) I passed.

 

 

 

Note the mosquito on its head. Snakes have no hands to swat them.

 

Two.

 

 

 

Three.

 

Four, Five, and one slithered off before I could get a picture.